2019 Z520C Trailer with Kenetica Loadstar ST215/65R17 Tires

[azhohar]

My new boat was delivered Monday 10/21/2019 and Tuesday morning i discovered a flat trailer tire (small screw). I swapped with my spare. Discount Tire plugged the screw hole (no charge) but when I asked them if they could register my new tires on my new Ranger boat trailer, they said they currently don't sell Kenetica or Kenetica Loadstar tires and certainly not any 17 inch trailer tires. Mine are Kenetica Loadstar ST215/65R17, Load Range 'C', 6-ply, 50 psi cold. My research shows Kenetica tires are made by Kenda but did not see my tire on their website or even a tire with the tread pattern that I have.

Since some of you have a Ranger trailer with these same tires (brand and size), is there a chain tire store you use for these 17 inch Kenda Kenetica Loadstar trailer tires? Thank you.

[dean c]

Mine are Kenda Kenitica...but I haven't noticed any "load star" designation. I've replaced mine from ebay.

[azhohar]

Mine are Kenda Kenitica...but I haven't noticed any "load star" designation. I've replaced mine from ebay.

Mine show Kenetica Loadstar on the tire. And I've only read that they are made by Kenda. But I couldn't find my tires on the Kenda website. If you have a blow out, it would take some time getting another tire from buying it at eBay. I guess you have to do what you have to do? Are your tires ST215/65R17?

[dean c]

Are your tires ST215/65R17?

215/65R17...No ST

[blkfalc4]

215/65R17...No ST

Same here, but I replaced the pos Kendas w/800mi due to having hi/lo spots and wouldn't balance.

Went with Michelins and I'm quite happy with the outcome.

[Passion 4 Bassin]

Same here, but I replaced the pos Kendas w/800mi due to having hi/lo spots and wouldn't balance.

Went with Michelins and I'm quite happy with the outcome.

Where did you find your Michelins? I am unable to find any tire anywhere to replace my 215 65 R17s! There are plenty of passenger car tires but the only trailer tire I could find that would work were 18 ply Michelins for $437 a piece before mounting, balancing etc. I also looked on ebay because of what dean c said above and couldn't find any. Ranger will sell you the Kenda's for about $140 a tire, plus shipping and then you have to mount them and I would much rather have Michelins if I can afford them.

[blkfalc4]

They all are passenger tires, Kendas, Michelins etc....

Got mine from Tire Rack

[AHens]

Ranger parts have the "ST" tires in 17"

[blkfalc4]

My 2019 came with Kenda kenetica 215/64r17 they are not st rated tires. Talking to Kenda directly, (warranty purposes) they do not manufacture 17" diameter st rated tires. But they are rated for the load.

The Michelin Defenders I went with have a better load and speed rating than the Kendas Ranger used.
I found the Defenders road better, tracked better, and less heat and psi buildup than the Kendas, according to my Dill TPMS installed in them.

Only st tires in my searching were actually 17.5" diameter.

GL in your search.

[Passion 4 Bassin]

Thanks everyone...I appreciate your help!

[azhohar]

My 2019 came with Kenda kenetica 215/64r17 they are not st rated tires. Talking to Kenda directly, (warranty purposes) they do not manufacture 17" diameter st rated tires. But they are rated for the load.

The Michelin Defenders I went with have a better load and speed rating than the Kendas Ranger used.
I found the Defenders road better, tracked better, and less heat and psi buildup than the Kendas, according to my Dill TPMS installed in them.

Only st tires in my searching were actually 17.5" diameter.

GL in your search.

Mike, what model of Michelin Defender did you buy? Was it the Defender LTX M/S or the Defender T&H? Thanks.

[blkfalc4]

These exactly:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

They went up a couple of bucks since June

[azhohar]

These exactly:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

They went up a couple of bucks since June

Fantastic! Thanks for your quick response. And those tires are the exact same size as what are on my 2019 Z520C trailer.

Did you wait for the Kenda tires to have problems or did you change out right away?

[blkfalc4]

The Kenda tires had issues right off the bat. Vibrations being foremost. Tried to have them balanced, but they had excessive hi/lo spots along with bad runout.

So, at approx 800 miles I replaced them with the Defenders and couldn't be happier with them.

Doing a search, Wally world had the Kendas for just under 70bux.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kenda-Ken...SABEgLHM_D_BwE

[azhohar]

I sent Kenda Tires a message from their website and they responded that those Kenda tires were brand new and that they were trying to establish a connection with retail outlets. The manager at my local Cabela's store told me today that they don't have them in stock but I could order them through their store.

To me, availability is a big concern along with the problems you mentioned with vibrations, excessive hi/low spots, and bad runout, e.g., out of roundness. I've had Michelin tires on my cars and light trucks for years and loved them. While the Michelin Defender LTX M/S tire doesn't seem to come in my size 215/65R17, the Michelin Defender T&H tire does. So my replacement tires are probably going to be the Michelin Defender T&H tires which are readily available and have a history of providing good service. Mike, I appreciate your input on this.

[flyingwillie]

I have the Kenda load star tires on my new 2020 Z520L. The first week I had it I had to replace the valve stems in two tires.....junk. I then researched the company and they have been making trailer tires in SE Asia since 1983. Ranger obviously bought cheap. I will replace them ASAP.

[azhohar]

I have the Kenda load star tires on my new 2020 Z520L. The first week I had it I had to replace the valve stems in two tires.....junk. I then researched the company and they have been making trailer tires in SE Asia since 1983. Ranger obviously bought cheap. I will replace them ASAP.

Thanks for your experience on your new 2020 Z520L. I was told that local pros or semi-pros here in Arizona were switching away from trailer tires and putting on performance car tires or light truck tires and were getting good reliability out of them. But I don't know how many of them are converting away from the ST labeled trailer tires. Availability is important to me also.

[Tone357]

subscribed.

[dean c]

I had one issue with a kenda that was vibrating...had them all balanced and seem fine since. No doubt though...they are cheaper car tires...but there are a whole bunch of them on Ranger trailers.

[flyingwillie]

215/65R17...No ST

Mine Kendas read......ST215/65R17